Derek Barisas of Fort Collins, Colo., Awarded Fulbright Grant to Iceland

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Derek Barisas

LEXINGTON, VA (05/24/2013)(readMedia)-- Washington and Lee University 2013 graduate Derek Barisas, of Fort Collins, Colo., has received a Fulbright Study/Research Grant to Iceland.

Barisas' Fulbright grant project is "Evolutionary Status of the Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit." He will be doing genetic testing of the black-tailed godwit under the supervision of Dr. Snæbjörn Pálsson at the University of Iceland.

"The Icelandic subspecies of the godwit could be at the rare point of becoming a new species," said Barisas. "Although understanding of how species develop is the heart of evolutionary biology, relatively little is known about the process."

Barisas explains that due to geographic isolation, settling an island is an event that favors the formation of a new species, known as speciation. "Now is the opportune time to study the Icelandic subspecies of the black-tailed godwit because its population is increasing and moving into new habitats. Analyzing the genetic makeup of the godwit population in Iceland may clarify the origin of Icelandic avian diversity and the process of speciation."

Barisas belonged to Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society (pre-medical), Beta Beta Beta Honor Society (biological) and the American Chemical Society. He was the director of public relations for WLUR, and he hosted a weekly radio show since 2009.

He worked as a research assistant in a chemistry lab and has co-written two publications with faculty, staff and students that are in various areas of publication. He was an R.E. Lee Summer Scholar.

Barisas received the James Lewis Howe Award for distinguished chemistry students in the Blue Ridge Section of the American Chemical Society, and the Todd Jones Scholarship in 2011.

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international exchange program.